01-04 February (Strasbourg): European Parliament plenary session01-04 February (Strasbourg): European Parliament Committee Meetings

European Commission

04 February (Aix-Marseille University, France): European humanitarian roundtables 2016 (France)04-05 February (St Julians, Malta): Economic advice in fisheries management04-05 February: Understanding and Tackling the Migration Challenge: The Role of Research

The CTA Brussels News Service is providing EU-ACP policy news since 2004, on various key thematic areas. In addition to this news service, we also provide news on ACP intra-regional trade, and south-south cooperation (investments of emerging countries' in agriculture in the ACP regions). The main stories for the week are featured in our newsletter and all stories can be found in our Regional Trade and the South-South cooperation sections.

The European Union is set to give Zimbabwe an additional $4.5 million with a view of raising more funds to ease a drought caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon and a crumbling economy. EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, Phillepe Van Demme, told journalists in Harare on Thursday that the regional body confirmed the funding Wednesday. “We will obligate another $4.5 million for Zimbabwe for close monitoring of the challenges and quantification … through the quick assessment being organized by ZIMVAC that will have more precise figures which will allow not only the EU but member states of the EU and other international partners to go back to their capitals and find out whether additional support can be mobilized.”

In Europe, a far-reaching and multifaceted policy review is under way that is likely to result in a significant change in European priorities. This process began last June when the EU's High Representative (effectively Europe's Foreign Minister) and Vice-President Federica Mogherini was mandated by European governments to develop a new strategy on foreign and security policy. Since then, it has become clear that Mogherini has decided that what is required is a comprehensive approach that embraces every aspect of Europe's external outreach. This will involve going far beyond traditional thinking about foreign development or security policy. It will also incorporate the new principle of development universality, the so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agreed last September at the United Nations.

A comprehensive Pacific Islands Trade Report will be launched by the Pacific Community and the European Union on Feb. 3, 2016 in Suva, Fiji. The report uses International Trade Centre data to illustrate the main primary sector export products from 15 Pacific Island countries, the main export markets for these products and whether they are growing or declining. Fiji shines as an example for other Pacific Island countries to follow, accounting for 96 percent of all regional exports. The report will be launched by the Pacific Community director-general Dr. Colin Tukuitonga, the European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, H.E. Andrew Jacobs, and Fiji’s Trade Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Navitalai Tuivuniwai. Members of the diplomatic corps, leading trade organizations and development partners will be attending the event.